This time however the stories did not involve either Jack Stick or the 21 CT contract but instead revolved around HHSC Executive Commissioner Kyle Janek and the proposed contract for privatization of Terrell State Hospital that was canceled this past month due to contracting improprieties. It appears that Jack Stick was not the only one in HHSC with close personal connections to a successful contractor’s lobbyist or have allegations they skirted state contracting laws.

Gave verbal approval of contract before bids were evaluated

The Tribune reported:

The state auditor report’s last month on the Terrell State Hospital contract found that the commission went with a contractor — GEO — who did not present the best value for the state, and failed to get the approval from the Texas Attorney General’s office as required.

But the report also pointed to how the agency’s executive commissioner — Janek — gave verbal approval to awarding the Terrell project to Geo before the bids from Geo and Green Oaks could be evaluated, raising more questions, particularly with the disclosures about Geo’s lobbying efforts, about whether Janek had made his mind up months ahead of time.

The Statesman added more details:

GEO Care lobbyist Frank Santos, a longtime friend of Janek’s, laid out the company’s vision: GEO would take
over a state psychiatric hospital, improve care and drive down costs. Even though no state officials had yet
proposed privatization, the lobbyist’s pitch to Janek, the Health and Human Services Commission chief,
included a road map showing the state how to make the lucrative deal happen – including which legislators to
woo and a timetable for the job.